JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A giraffe at the Jacksonville Zoo is now on the road to recovery after an unusual injury.
Zookeepers say Babe, an 8-month-old giraffe, somehow ripped off part of her lower jaw.
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They noticed her injury on Feb. 8.
Zookeepers think she may have been kicked by another giraffe or possibly got her jaw caught in something.
Veterinarians performed surgery on Feb. 12, and she's doing well now.
"Obviously, we could not put the section of the jaw back to the giraffe, so the giraffe is going to be missing half of its teeth and that portion of the jaw, but it has not impacted the giraffe's appetite," said Corey Neatrour, mammal supervisor at the Jacksonville Zoo. "The giraffe is gaining weight, still growing."
Zookeepers are keeping Babe in a separate cage for now, but say her mom is still keeping a close eye on her.
They think Babe will make a full recovery.